The Best Samsung Smartphones to Buy in 2023

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Samsung is sending its new mid-range into the race in March 2023 with the Galaxy A34 and the Galaxy A54. Prior to this, the Korean tech giant introduced its new flagship lineup, the Galaxy S23 series. Samsung’s most recent foldable releases were in August 2022, featuring the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

The best Samsung smartphones compared

	Editorial pick	Value-for-money	Best foldable	Best compact foldable	Top mid-range model	Budget mid-ranger
Product
Picture
Good	Superb AMOLED QHD+ screen at 120 Hz refresh rate Highly polished finish Most versatile 200 MP camera module on the market Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 makes all the difference Excellent battery life which is a feat for Samsung 4 years of Android updates + 5 years of security updates The integrated S Pen is as cool as ever	Compact and good haptic feedback Outstanding display Very good performance Excellent picture quality Larger battery (compared to its predecessor) More earth-friendly inclusions	The hybrid tablet/smartphone form factor remains relevant Neat design and excellent finish More discreet and rigid hinges Efficient and versatile triple 50 MP camera module with 3x optical zoom Very solid battery life Good performance 4 Android updates and 5 years of security updates IPX8 rating	Amazing form factor Incredibly small and handy Improved durability and IPX8 rating 120Hz AMOLED screen is shiny Great improvement in battery life		Smooth AMOLED display Good everyday performance Best-in-class software support Decent camera
Bad	Nothing much new in One UI 5.1 Same design as last year Archaic 45-watt charging speed	No LTPO display Charging speed is archaic No UWB No microSD support No 3.5mm audio port	Under display selfie camera is disappointing HD+ resolution of the cover screen is too low Cover screen is still a little bit too narrow 25W wired charging is too slow No 3.5mm audio jack	A dragon on a leash (limited performance) No telephoto camera Slow charging solutions		Slow wired charging No charger in the box No headphone jack Lots of preinstalled apps
Rating	Read the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review	Read the Samsung Galaxy S23 review	Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review	Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review		Read the Samsung Galaxy A34 review
Offers*

As of March 2023, you will be able to find Samsung smartphones from five different product families on the market. Each of these normally occupies its very own price niche. We have divided this article into the various product families accordingly, revealing our favorites for each product family to you and, of course, presenting the alternatives. The shortcuts in the table of contents will take you directly to the respective Galaxy series.

Table of Content:

Galaxy Z: Foldable smartphones from $999 to $1,799

	The new Z Fold	The 2021 Z Fold	The new Z Flip	The 2021 Z Flip	Value-for-money
Device name		Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3		Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Image
Internal display	7.6-inch AMOLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 120 Hz		6.67-inch AMOLED 2640 x 1080 pixels 120 Hz		7.6-inch AMOLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 120 Hz
External display	6.2-inch AMOLED 2268 x 832 pixels 120 Hz		1.9 inches, AMOLED 260 x 512 pixels		6.2-inch AMOLED 2260 x 816 pixels 60 Hz
SoC	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
RAM	12 GB RAM		8 GB RAM		12 GB RAM
Storage	256 / 512 / 1024 GB ROM	256 / 512 GB ROM	128 / 256 / 512 GB ROM	128 / 256 GB ROM	256 / 512 GB ROM
Expandable memory?	❌
OS	Android 12	Android 11	Android 12	Android 11	Android 10
Camera	Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2 Telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4	Main: 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2 Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.4	Main: 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2		Main: 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2 Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.4
Selfie	Internal: 4 MP, f/1.8 Cover: 10 MP, f/2.2		10 MP, f/2.4		Internal: 10 MP, f/2.2 Cover: 10 MP, f/2.2
Battery	4,400 mAh 25 W wired charging 10 W wireless charging		3,700 mAh 25 W wired charging 10 W wireless charging	3,300 mAh 15 W wired charging 10 W wireless charging	4,500 mAh wired charging
Connectivity	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC / UWB		5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.1 / NFC	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.0 / NFC / UWB
IP Certification	IPX8
Dimensions and weight	Folded: 155,1 x 67,1 x 15,8 mm Unfolded: 155,1 x 130,1 x 6,3 mm 263 g	Folded: 158,2 x 67,1 x 16 mm Unfolded: 158,2 x 128,1 x 6,4 mm 271 g	Folded: 84,9 x 71,9 x 17,1 mm Unfolded: 165,2 x 71,9 x 6,9 mm 187 g	Folded: 86,4 x 72,2 x 17,1 mm Unfolded: 166,0 x 72,2 x 6,9 mm 183 g	Folded: 68,0 x 159,2 x 16,8 mm Unfolded: 128,2 x 159,2 x 6,9 mm 282 g
Pros	Hybrid format of tablet and smartphone Sophisticated design Excellent workmanship Improved hinge Triple main camera Good battery life Performance Update warranty IP certification	IPX8 certification 80% more robust screen Unique design Support for the S Pen	Amazing form factor Incredibly small and handy Improved durability and IPX8 rating 120Hz AMOLED screen is shiny Great improvement in battery life	Exciting design Super compact Rear camera can double up as a front camera	Optimized one-handed operation Solid hinge Almost bezel-less display when open Generous secondary display Intuitive multitasking Powerful Snapdragon 865+ SoC
Cons	Under-display camera performance could be improved Outdoor display and its front camera Slow charging speed No audio jack	Software still needs some refining Can see a crease in the display Competition offers faster quick charging	A dragon on a leash (limited performance) No telephoto camera Slow charging solutions	Price is still barely affordable Display has a crease Battery capacity is below average for this class	Price Average camera performance Battery life Foldable modes could be improved
Ratings	Read the Galaxy Z Fold 4 review	Read the Galaxy Z Fold 3 review	Read the Galaxy Z Flip 4 review	Read the Galaxy Z Flip 3 review	Read the Galaxy Z Fold 2 review
Offer*	Check offer	Check offer	Check offer	Check offer	Check offer

August 2021 marked a paradigm shift for Samsung’s smartphones. Instead of a new Note generation, the South Koreans introduced two foldables from the Galaxy Z series: the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

However, those who want the best foldable from Samsung will now be served with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The Fold is the most impressive from a technical point of view. Samsung has packed everything into it that is possible—including S-Pen support and a camera hidden in the display. Nevertheless, the wow factor is even bigger in the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which is really super-compact when folded—and hardly makes any concessions in terms of hardware.

For fans of the Z-fold form factor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 could be an exciting option because it is a bit cheaper. You can still get the Foldable from 2020 for less than $1,000. If you do not explicitly want the foldable form factor, you can also buy last year’s Z Flip 3, which is now available for less than $700.

The following two links tell you about the basic differences between Samsung’s 2021 and 2022 foldable generations. As mentioned at the beginning, we will update this post as soon as we have tested the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 in detail!

You can check the current prices of Samsung’s foldable lineup in the following price comparison: the best foldable smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S: Flagships from $699 to $1,199

	Top-of-the line S-series	Big-screen S-series	Basic S-series	2022’s flagship	2022’s big-screened S	2022’s basic S	Fan Edition S Series
Product
Picture
Display	6.8″, AMOLED	6.6″, AMOLED	6.1″, AMOLED	6.8″, AMOLED	6.6″, AMOLED	6.1″, AMOLED	6.4″, AMOLED
	3,088 x 1,440 px	2,340 x 1,080 px		3088×1440 pixels	2400×1080 pixels		1,080 x 2,400 px
	120 Hz refresh rate (LTPO)	120 Hz refresh rate		120 Hz refresh rate (LTPO)	120 Hz refresh rate		120 Hz refresh rate
SoC	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy			Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (Global) Samsung Exynos 2200 (Europe)			Snapdragon 888
RAM	8 GB, 12 GB RAM	8 GB RAM		8/12 GB RAM	8 GB RAM		6/8 GB RAM
Storage	256/512/1024 GB ROM	256/512 GB  ROM	128/256 GB ROM	128/256/512/1024 GB ROM	128/256 GB ROM		128/256 GB ROM
Expandable memory?	❌			❌			❌
OS	OneUI 5.1 based on Android 13			OneUI 4.1 based on Android 12			OneUI 4.1 based on Android 12
Camera	Main camera: 200 MP, f/1.7 aperture, OIS Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto 3x: 10 MP, f/2.4 aperture Telephoto 10x: 10 MP, f/4.9 aperture	Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8 aperture, OIS Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP, f/2.2 aperture 3x telephoto camera: 10 MP, f/2.4 aperture		Main camera: 108 MP, f/1.8 aperture, OIS Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto 3x: 10 MP, f/2.4 aperture Telephoto 10x: 10 MP, f/4.9 aperture	Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8 aperture, OIS Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP, f/2.2 aperture 3x telephoto camera: 10 MP, f/2.4 aperture		Main camera: 12 MP, f/1.8 aperture, OIS Ultra wide-angle: 8 MP, f/2.2 aperture 3x telephoto camera: 12 MP, f/2.4 aperture
Selfie camera	12 MP, f/2.2 aperture			40 MP, f/2.2 aperture	10 MP, f/2.2 aperture		Selfies: 32 MP, f/2.2 aperture
Battery	5,000 mAh 45 W wired charging	4,700 mAh 45 W wired charging	3,900 mAh 25 W wired charging	5,000 mAh 45 W wired charging	5,000 mAh 45 W wired charging	3,700 mAh 25 W wired charging	4,500 mAh 25 W wired charging
Connectivity	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.3 / NFC / UWB		5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.3 / NFC	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC / UWB		5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC	5G / LTE / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.0 / NFC
IP Certification	IP68			IP68			IP68
Colors	Green, Phantom Black, Lavender, Cream. Online exclusives: Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red	Green, Phantom Black, Lavender, Cream. Online exclusives: Graphite, Lime		Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Burgundy Online exclusives: Graphite, Red, Sky Blue	Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold Online exclusives: Cream, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet		Graphite, White, Lavender, Olive
Dimensions and weight	163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm, 233 g	157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm, approx. 195 g	146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm, approx. 168 g	163,3 x 77,9 x 8,9 mm, 229 g	157,4 x 75,8 x 7,6 mm, 196 g	146 x 70,6 x 7,6 mm, 168 g	155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm, 177 g
Good	Superb AMOLED QHD+ screen at 120 Hz refresh rate Highly polished finish Most versatile 200 MP camera module on the market Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 makes all the difference Excellent battery life which is a feat for Samsung 4 years of Android updates + 5 years of security updates The integrated S Pen is as cool as ever	Great workmanship and trendy design Competent performance Excellent camera system Long battery life	Compact and good haptic feedback Outstanding display Very good performance Excellent picture quality Larger battery (compared to its predecessor) More earth-friendly inclusions	Excellent 120Hz QHD+ display Very elegant sleek and square design More consistent S Pen integration Still the champion when it comes to versatile photos Unrivalled Android update policy	Solid design and excellent materials IP 68 certification Mature software and great update policy Versatile camera configuration	Really nice to look at Great display Adequate performance Excellent cameras The selfies are just right Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches	Bright, smooth and responsive 120Hz AMOLED display Snapdragon 888 performance without overheating issues Neat and modern design (despite all the plastic) Convincing wide-angle and 3x zoom camera module Night Mode works great 3 major Android versions and 4 years of security updates IP68 certification
Bad	Nothing much new in One UI 5.1 Same design as last year Archaic 45-watt charging speed	A lot of unwanted, pre-installed apps Fast Charging still lags behind the competition	No LTPO display Charging speed is archaic No UWB No microSD support No 3.5mm audio port	Disappointing Exynos 2200 performance Poor battery life Fast recharge is not fast enough and the $60 charger is not included Expensive price Basic 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage configuration is too limited	Limited battery life of only one day Slow charging capability	Heats up easily 3700 mAh is not enough Very slow charging Few changes from the S21	Mediocre battery life Archaic 25-watt fast charging No microSD port or 3.5mm audio jack Charger is not included in the box Price is not competitive
Rating	Read the Galaxy S23 Ultra review	Read the Galaxy S23+ review	Read the Galaxy S23 review	Read the Galaxy S22 Ultra review	Read the Galaxy S22+ review	Read the Galaxy S22 review	Read the Galaxy S21 FE review
Offers*

In the first quarter of each year, Samsung introduces new Galaxy S models. As with the previous year, in February 2023, in addition to the basic model (Galaxy S23), there was also a Plus model (Galaxy S23+) and the ultra flagship known as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. In all three models, Samsung replaced the much-criticized Exynos processor and installed a higher-clocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (aka For Galaxy).

After reviewing all three models, the S23 Ultra is still the most promising model in the series. With the new 200-megapixel camera, it should not only be one of the best camera smartphones of the year, but with the slot for the S-Pen, it also follows the intellectual legacy of the Note series. If that’s too expensive for you, you can take a look at the other two models in the Galaxy S23 series, which, apart from the processor, are not technically up to par with the Ultra model. 

If that is still too expensive for you, all 2022 models are of course also available in the S range, as well as the devices from the Fan Edition. For those who can live with a few compromises, the Galaxy S21 FE still proves to be a very interesting candidate. After all, this flagship costs less than half of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, keep in mind that an S22 FE may be in the pipeline.

Samsung Galaxy A: Mid-range smartphones from $160 to $550

	Samsuns Galaxy A line in 2023
Product
Picture
Display	6.4 inches AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate	6.5 inches AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate	6.6-inch AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate	6.4-inch AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels 90 Hz refresh rate	6.6 inches IPS LCD 1080 x 2408 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate	6.6 inches PLS LCD 1080 x 2408 pixels 90 Hz refresh rate	6.5 inches PLS LCD 720 x 1600 pixels 90 Hz refresh rate	6.6 inches PLS LCD 1080 x 2408 pixels 60 Hz refresh rate
Processor	Samsung Exynos 1380	Samsung Exynos 1280	MediaTek Dimensity 1080	Samsung Exynos 1280	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695	MediaTek Dimensity 700 (US) Samsung Exynos 1330 (Global)	MediaTek Dimensity 700	Samsung Exynos 850
Memory	6/8 GB RAM 128/256 GB storage	4/6/8 GB RAM 128/256 GB storage	6/8 GB RAM 128/256 GB ROM	4/6/8 GB RAM 128/256 GB ROM	4/6/8 GB RAM 64/128 GB storage	4/6/8 GB RAM 64/128 GB storage	4/6 GB RAM 64/128 GB storage	3/4/6 GB RAM 32/64/128 GB storage
microSD	Yes
Câmera	Main: 50 megapixels Ultrawide: 12 megapixels Macro: 5 megapixels	Main: 64 megapixels Ultrawide: 12 megapixels Macro: 5 megapixels Depth: 5 megapixels	Main camera: 48 MP Ultrawide: 8 MP Macro camera: 5 MP	Main camera: 48 MP Ultrawide: 8 MP Macro camera: 5 MP Depth camera: 2 MP	Main: 50 megapixels Ultrawide: 5 megapixels Macro: 2 megapixels Depth: 2 megapixels	Main: 50 megapixels Macro: 2 megapixels Depth: 2 megapixels	Main: 50 megapixels Macro: 2 megapixels Depth: 2 megapixels	Main: 50 megapixels Ultrawide: 5 megapixels Macro: 2 megapixels Depth: 2 megapixels
Selfie	32 megapixels	32 megapixels	13 megapixels	13 megapixels	8 megapixels	13 megapixels	5 megapixels	8 megapixels
Audio	Stereo speakers no headphone jack				Mono speaker Headphone jack
Battery	5000 mAh
Charging	Wired: 25 W					Wired: 15 W
Good		Good AMOLED display Good performance Decent battery life The best software support in the category	Smooth AMOLED display Good everyday performance Best-in-class software support Decent camera	Powerful AMOLED display Decent performance in everyday use Great software support Capable main camera
Bad		Slow charging No headphone jack Non-competitive price	Slow wired charging No charger in the box No headphone jack Lots of preinstalled apps	A bit pricey No wireless charging support Rather slow Quick-Charging No charger included No headphone jack
Rating		Read the Samsung Galaxy A53 review	Read the Samsung Galaxy A34 review	Read the Samsung Galaxy A33 review
Offers*

The Galaxy A series begins from $160 onwards and goes all the way to just under $600 featuring 256 GB of storage space. This means that mid-range handsets are more broadly positioned than many other smartphone manufacturers with their entire portfolio. The handsets of the Galaxy A series from 2022 and 2023 are—as far as we have reviewed them—a rock-solid choice in any case.

NextPit already reviewed the Galaxy A34, which unsurprisingly scored the same as its predecessor. The Galaxy A54 is still pending, so stay tuned to see how Samsung’s top mid-ranger performs in daily tasks, photography, and even games.

You can read more about the differences between the Galaxy A and Galaxy S series in the following article:

Samsung is, of course, not alone in the market with its Galaxy A series devices. If you are looking for alternatives outside the Samsung bubble, we would recommend this article on the best mid-range smartphones to choose from. 

Samsung Galaxy M: Entry-level handsets from $100 to $250

Samsung has placed its entry-level phones under the Galaxy M series. The smartphones cover a price range between $100 and $250. Unfortunately, we have not had the chance to review any of the Galaxy M series to date and therefore, we are unable to provide you with any recommendations. 

We are still working on obtaining review units of the Galaxy M models in the future. Until then, you will find our favorites in the following linked article of the best sub-$200 smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Xcover: Rugged smartphones

When you first take a look at the technical specifications, the Galaxy XCover series is not very sexy at all. But you will definitely receive maximum protection with the IP68 rating. This means these smartphones should definitely be able to survive everyday sports or even get abused at a construction site. After all, the most modern hardware is of little use to you if the smartphone screen cracks on its very first drop. 

Do take note that there is also an Enterprise Edition of these handsets. These models offer an extended warranty as well as options for remote maintenance and management by administrators.

How to buy smartphones at great prices

Depending on when you read this article, the wait for discount campaigns or sales can be even more worthwhile. These are campaigns such as Black Friday, where you can pick up smartphones for a wee bit cheaper than usual. I have collated the information for you in the following table.

We want to hear from you! Have you checked out our recommended Samsung devices list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Your feedback is important to us!

Last updated at the end of April 2023. Older comments were kept and may refer to outdated versions of this guide.